Cotton-harvester.



L. L. UPSHAW.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 14,1913.

1,092,762. Patented Apr. 7, 19M

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

awe/whoa COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CONWASHINGTON. n c.

' L. L. UPSHAW.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913 1,092,762. Patented Apr. 7, 1914 5SHBETB-SHBET 2.

.01.! 'MBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON. D4 cx L. L. UPSHAW.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APIfLIOATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7,1914.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

flttoqmw L. L. UPSHAW.

COTTON HARVESTBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

w Mn wuemto'a L. L. UPSHAW.

COTTON HARVESTBR.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

1,092,762. Patented Apr. 7, 191

5 SEBBTS-SHEET 5.

wi lmaooeb I fvou/JL a?) 14 LUOIUS L. UPSI-IAW, OF DENISON, TEXAS.

GOTTON-HARVESTER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUoIUs L. UPSHAW, acitizen of the United States, residing at Denison, in. the county ofGrayson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cotton-Harvesters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inmachines designed for the harvesting of the cotton crop and theinvention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements andcombinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and inwhich simi lar reference characters indicate like parts in the severalviews ;-Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cotton harvesting machineembodying the salient features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalvertical sectional view of the same 011 the line X' -X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the rotatable headscarrying one set of picking mechanism. Fig. 4: is a top plan View ofFig. 3, showing parts broken away and showing certain of the pickingdevices omitted. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the lower partof one of the picker spindle carriers showing several of the spindles inposition and showing-a means for imparting rotation to the spindles.Fig. 6 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 5, showing oneside of the lower portion of the spindle carrier open to give access tothe interior of the carrier and showing a sliding cover for the openside of said carrier. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line YY ofFig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a rotatable shaft around which theactuating cord for a picker spin-' dle is adapted to be alternatelyreversely wound and showing means for preserving the tension of saidcord. Fig. 9 is an end view of Fig. 8, with the pinion omitted. Fig. 10is a detail in plan of the stem of a plunger for discharging the pickedcotton, and means for actuating the same. Fig. 11 is a side elevation ofthe upper portion of a rotatable head showing a modified and preferredform of mechanism for rotating the picking spindles. Fig. 12 is a topplan view of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged top plan view of a portionof the rotatable head of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a sectional view on theline VV\V of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is an en- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

semu No. 779,012.

larged cross-section of one of the guide tubes for the rope or cable,54.

In carrying out my invention the various parts of the machine mayreceive power and actuation from the traction of the main or supportingwheels of said machine, and to this end the traction wheels, 10, may beof any approved construction with tread surfaces adapted to engage theground so that as the machine is drawn thereover, the wheels will bepositively rotated without liability to slippage. The hubs of the wheelsmay be provided with sprocket wheels, 11, and each of these latterwheels is designed to drive a smaller sprocket wheel, 12, mounted on ahorizontal shaft, 13, extending across the top central portion of themachine, said transverse shaft carrying a clutch mecha nism whichcomprises a slidable clutch member, 14, actuated by a suitable lever,15, said clutchmember engaging a companion member, 16, adapted to befixed to the shaft in any well known manner, said transverse shaftcarrying at its inner end a beveled pinion, 17 adapted to mesh with abeveled gear, 18, upon one end of a shaft, 19, extending longitudinallyof the machine, said shaft, 19, being, preferably, of a tumbling-rodorder so that it may be flexible to accommodate itself to the up anddown adjustments of a movable part of the frame of the machine, which Iwill hereinafter describe.

The main frame of the machine is designed to be stationary and it may becomposed of any suitable material and may have any appropriate design,size and strength. As shown in Fig. 1, this frame comprises two sidemembers, 20, connected at the front by a transverse portion, 21, andprojecting forwardly of the sides are the extensions,

22, which are connected to a front bolster or i like part, 28, to whichis appropriately connected by a king-bolt, or otherwise, the tongue, 24.

.At the front of the machine are suitable steering wheels, 26, which arejournaled on the crank ends of vertical rods or turning posts, 27,suitably mounted in the main frame, the upper ends of the turning postshaving lever arms, 28, fixed to them and the free ends of these armsbeing connected to an arch-shaped cross bar, 3, which extends from thelever-arm at one side of the machine to the corresponding arm at theother side of said machine, the central portion of the arched bar beingin turn suitably condesigned to perform.- It may be constructed ofangle-iron or of other appropriate material and it includes parallelarched bars,

29, of like material which extend transversely over the center of themachme and brace the sldes of the mam frame and also form a suitablesupport for the drivers seat, 30, and

suchother accessories as may be provided.

ln'addition to the foregoing and in order to give greater stability tothe machine, I may employ curved braced bars, 31, which have one endbolted or otherwise fixedly secured to the side members of the mainframe and have their upper ends bolted or otherwise rigidly secured tothe members of the arched bar before mentioned, the arched bar beingdesigned to support the transverse shafts, 13, of which there is one ateach side of the machine, together with the clutch mechanism beforementioned, and said shafts, 13, being each provided with aspring, 32, bywhich the movable clutch member, 14, may be held in proper engagementwith the companion clutch member, 16, when the lever, 15, has beenactuated to permit the engagement of these parts. When said lever ismoved to disengage the clutch member, 14, from the companion member, 16,the

spring is under tension and the lever may be I held by any appropriateand well known means, thus disconnecting the power of the machine fromthe picking mechanism which I will presently describe.

Interior to the rigid main frame is a supplemental frame, consisting ofparallel sides, 33, and parallel ends, 34, and intermediate parallellongitudinal and transverse bars, 3530, respectively, said supplementalframe having channeled guides, 37, on its outer sides near the cornersadapted to be engaged by antifriction rollers, 38, jour naled on theinner sides of the main frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby theinner or supplemental frame may be ver- 'tically raised and loweredrelatively to the main frame and to the ground and to the height of thegrowing cotton plants, this adjustment of the supplemental frame beingaccomplished by any suitable means, as for instance, by "the employmentof vertical screws, 39, having operating hand wheels, 40, at the topwithin the ready access of the operator, said screw shafts, 39, passingthrough guides, 41, fixed to the arch members, 29, and the threadedportion of the shaft operatively engaging an internally threaded nut,42, fixed to the adjustable frame, as shown in'Fig. 2, and the lower endof the screw shaft being swiveled or otherwise rotatably stepped in abracket or hearing, 39, 011 some appropriate part of the fixed frame, asfor instance, on the down-turned sides of the arch, 29. From thisdescription it will be understood that by manipulating the hand wheel,40, of which there is one at each side of the ma chine, the screw shaft,39, will be rotated and by working in the fixed nut, 42, which iscarried by the adjustable frame, the latter will be raised and loweredin a vertical plane until the desired vertical adjustment of the pickingdevices hereinafter mentioned has been accomplished. V

In order that the adjustment of the supplemental frame may occur,without disturbing the operative position of the driving devices, thetumbling shafts, 19, are preferably made of two parts, one part, 43,being sleeved upon the other part, 44, which latter may be of square orangular cross section tofit a corresponding cavity in the companionpart, '43, whereby one part of this shaft may slide relatively to theother part so that the shaft may lengthen and shorten in response to theup and down movements of the supplemental frame, while maintaining thedriving connections in operative engagement.

In my former Patent No. 1,041,202, Cotober 15, 1912, I have disclosed acotton harvester wherein is employed a fixed frame and a verticallyadjustable frame mounted therein, said adjustableframe carrying pickingmechanism, but instead of using the endless belts and picking devices ofthe aforesaid patent, I now use as a substitute therefor, a pair ofrotatable vertically-disposed heads, A, A,each of which rotates in acircular path, one of said rotatable heads being mounted on an axis atone side of the longltudinal' as well as the transverse center of themachine, and the other head being mounted upon an axis at the other sideof ing mechanism adapted to operate upon the growing plants from oneside thereof, and the other picking head adapted to operate upon theplants from the opposite side and after the plants have passed beyondthe range of action of the picking devices of the first-named head,thereby enabling me to operate upon the plants from opposite sides andto reach every portion of the plants so as to increase to the maximumthe intended function of the machine. Each of the picking heads is shownas of substantially cylindrical form, but the cross sectional'form ofthe head might be varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention. The head has suflicient length to practically occupy theentire space between the upper and lower members of the supplementalframe, it being understood that this supplemental frame has a bottomsection composed of parallel side members, 33, and parallel end members,34:, corresponding to the like members, 33 and 34, before mentioned, andwhich are joined to the latter by suitable vertical members, as, thusmaking an open box-like structure of the supplemental frame and withinwhich structure the rotatable heads are contained. Each of the heads iscarried by a vertical shaft, 46 (Fig. 3) and each head comp-rises asuitable disk, 47, having concentric spaced upstanding flanges, or rims,48-49, both of which have an annular series of perforations, 50, 50, inwhich are appropriately guided the opposite ends of suitable shafts, 52,said shafts being formed with enlarged portions, 53, around each ofwhich is designed to be coiled alternately in opposite directions a cordor cable, 54:, for operating the picking fingers, 55, which I willhereinafter specifically describe. Each of the rotatable heads also hasa bottom disk, 56, and between this disk and the upper disk, 47, extendthe picker spindle carriers, 57, which carriers are preferably in theform of tubes, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, closed at the lower ends bya plug, 57, or otherwise, and being pierced at suitable distances apartbetween its ends to receive the aforesaid picker spindles, 55, and whichspindles may be of any well known type and may follow more or lessclosely the picking spindles of my former application Serial Number717,029, filed August 26, 1912, and which spindles are not herein shownin detail. The picking spindle carriers, 57, are arranged in parallelorder to form substantlally a cylinder and each of these carrierssupports and is designed to operatively carry a vertical row of parallelpicking spindles, the inner ends of the spindles being provided withpulleys which are housed within the tubular carriers, 57, and aroundwhich pulleys pass the cord or cable, 54, before mentioned, and by themanipulation of which an independ ent rotation about a horizontal axisis given the picker spindles coordinately with the rotation of the headabout its axis, 4:6, and also the oscillation of the rows of pickerspindles to cause them to change their angle, which oscillation isaccomplished by providing the upper end of the carrier with a pinion,58, adapted to be engaged by a horizontal rack, 59, the inner end ofwhich has a reduced stem, 60, suitably guided in an opening formed inthe inner annular flange, 49, of the disk, 47; the outer end of the rackbar, 59, is also guided in a perforation formed in the annular flange orrim, 48, before mentioned, and said rack is provided with a stud 0rantifriction roller, 61, adapt- I ed to engage a cam groove, 62, in adisk, 63,

superposed above the disk, 47, and having an upwardly extending hub, 6f, which is preferably square or many-sided in cross section and whichis designed to engage in a corresponding socket formed in the top framebars of the supplemental adjustable frame, whereby the cam disk is heldin fixed position. It will be observed from Fig. 4-, that the rack barsare radially disposed and that they extend in series throughout thecircumference of the disk, 17, and that each of the rack bars will bearranged and constructed as before described and that one of said barswill be provided for each of the picker spindle carriers, 57, with itspinion, 58. From the arrangement of these parts and considering that thecam disk, 63, is stationary, it will be apparent that as the disks, 47and 56, are rotated by reason of their connection with the shaft, 4:6,to which the power is applied, the studs or antifriction rollers, 61,will be caused to engage different parts of the cam groove during saidrotation and the rack bars will be accordingly moved in and out duringthe time the studs, 61, are engaged by the higher part of the cam, andby this movement they will impart rotation to the pinions, 58, andpartial rotation to the picker spindle carriers, 57, and as the lattercarry the picker spindles, 55, it will be manifest that these spindleswill be given an oscillation in a horizontal plane to change their angleas shown in Fig. 1 at the same time that the heads are revolved aboutthe axis of the shaft, 46. This change of angle of the picking spindlesis from substantially radial, as in Fig. 1, to a more or less tangent tothe periphery of the head and it begins to occur just before the spindleenters the stripping devices which remove the cotton from the spindlesand there is a gradual change in the angle of the spindles so that theymay be drawn substantially at right angles through. the strippingdevices and the angle to gradually change until just before the spindlesare again in position to enter the plants, thereby they may be projectedinto the plants in a plane substantially at rightangles thereto.

In order that each of the picker spindles,

55, may be given a rotation about its own axis, I provide the outer endsof the shafts, 52, wlth plnions, 65, as shown in Figs. 3, f and 8,adapted to engage suitable racks, 6G,

66, positioned above and below said pinions.

In other words, one of the racks, 66, extends part way around the circledescribed by the outer end of the shaft, 52, and has its rack surfacepresented upwardly while the other rack, 66, is in a lower plane thanthe rack, 66, but forms substantially a continuation thereof. Thepurpose of this construction is that in one part of the travel of therotary head carrying the picker spindles, the upper parts of thepinions, 65, on the outer ends of the shafts, 52, engage one of theracks from below and as the head continues to move and the pinion tooperate over said rack, the pinion and its shaft are rotated and thuscoil the cord or cable, .54, upon the enlarged head, 53, of the shaft,in one direction, and when each pinion, 65, passes from the rack, 66,its under portion at once enters into engagement with the other rack,66, which at once changes the direction of rotation of the shaft, 52,and results in the cord or cable, 54, being unwound from its firstposition and rewound in an opposite direction, thus rotating the shaft,52, oppositely from the direction in which it is first rotated. The cordor cable has one end secured to a plate, :67, (Fig. 8) and thenceextends substantially parallel with the shaft, 52, to the head, 53,which latter has an opening formed transversely through it at one sideof the center and the cord passes through this opening and is then woundspirally around the head as many times as may be desired and thenceextends downwardly into the tubular or hollow spindle carrier, 57, andaround one side of one of the grooved pulleys, 68, and is thence carriedto and around a pulley, 69, on the inner end of the lowermost pickingspindle. From this pulley, '69, the rope or cable is carried upwardlycrossing a companion part and passing around another of the crossedpulleys, 68, of other picking spindles and finally it emerges from theopen top of the tubular carrier and through the pinion thereon and isdirected through an opening, 53, made transversely through theenlargedhead, 53, of the shaft, 52, and is carried along a groove, 53 in saidhead and parallel with the other end of the cord and is se- The arcuredto the aforesaid plate, 67. rangement 1s such that when the pinion onthe outer end of one of the shafts, 52, is engaged by the rack, 66, theshaft is rotated in one direct-ion to cause the cord to wind up on theenlarged head of the shaft in one direc- 1 tion during the time thepinion is in engagement with said rack and when the pinion disengagesth1s rack and engages the opp0- sitely placed rack, 66, the pinion whiletraveling over the second rack is rotated in an opposite direction andthe before-mentioned cord is unwound from the enlarged head of the shaftand is rewound in an opposite direction. The result of the two operfations is that the picker spindles are caused torotate first in onedirection and then in the other and when the rotation is in onedirection the pull is upon one of the runs of the cord in the pickerspindle carrier, 57

and when the rotation is in the opposite each other the spindle carriersso that they jeet of this rotation is that when the picker spindles areroaming about in the cotton plants and are picking up the loose cottonfrom the boll, if they are rotate in one direction only there would be atendency of these spindles picking up leaves and fragments of the belland .entraiining them in the cotton, which would necessitate aseparation of these particles by subsequent process, but

by rotating the picker spindles first in one direction and then in theother, it is apparent that if any leaves or broken pieces of boll shouldbe mixed with the cotton during such rotation, the reverse rotation willresult in the unwinding of the cotton and will give the leaves or otherforeign matter opportunity to detach themselves from the cotton duringsaid unwinding. A great deal of the foreign matter is thus gotten rid ofand a better grade of material is the result.

In order that access may :be given the pulleys, 68 and 69, and thecable, properly rove through the pulleys, I prefer to make one side ofthe picker spindle open as shown in Fig. 6, and to employ a slidingcover, 70, to close this opening and exclude dirt and foreign matter. Itwill also .be observed from Figs. .3, 4 :and :8, that'the plate, 167 towhich the ends of the cord or cable, 54, are conneeted is held undertension by a spring, 71, coiled about the shaft, .52, and bearingbetween said plate and the enlarged head of said shaft. The purpose ofthis spring is to take up any slack in the cord during the winding andunwindingof sa-id cord upon the enlarged portion or head of the shaft.It will :be understood from Fig. 4 that the shafts, 52, with theirspindles and other adjuncts are fixed in spaced relation around theflanged disk, 47, and that each of said shafts is disposed directly overone of the aforesaid rack bars, 59.

lVhile I have described in detail one mech- 1, 2, :3, 4 and "8 of thedrawings, but that I feel at liberty to employ other, means for givingthe desired movement to said spindles. As a matter of fact I have shownin Figs. 11 .to '15, inclusive, another type of mechanism intended forthis same purpose and which I regard as a preferred mecha- 'nism forrotatin the spindles. In said fig,-

ures,;the disk,4, .at the upper end of the rotary head has a very deepflange, 48, which flange forms a cylindrical extension of the disk, andthe picker spindle carriers, 57, enter the flange, 47, and are providedwith the pinions, 58, as in Fig. 3. The cord or cable, 54, emerges fromthe top of the picker spindle carriers and the ends of the rope aredirected through laterally-extending tubes or conductors, 59, leadingfrom the upper ends of the carriers, 57, to the circumference of thecylinder or flange, 48, suitable direction pulleys, 6061, being employed over which the ends of the cable pass so as to reduce thefriction of the cable to a minimum. The circumference of the flange orcylinder, 48', is provided with a series of parallel channels or slottedtubes, 62, each of which is designed as a guide for one end or portionof each of the ropes or cables, 54, which rotate the picker spindles.The ends of the cable are first brought through the tube, 59, and eachend is then laid in its respective groove or slotted tube, 62, and oneend of the cable is then drawn along its tube until the enlargement orbutton, a, on the other end of the same cable is drawn in until it restssubstantially opposite the outer end of the tube, (as in Fig. 13), whereit is in position to be engaged and held during the further rotation ofthe head whereby during this continued rotation of the said head thefirst-mentioned and now slack part of the cable will be drawn backloosely along its channel or slotted tube and until the enlargement orbutton, 72, thereon will have come at rest in front of theopen end ofthe tube, 59. During this movement of the first mentioned end of thecable the head will have made substantially a one-third rotation andthis will have brought the button or enlargement, b, in positioncorresponding in position to the button, a, in Fig. 13, Where it may becaught and held by a plate, 63. There are two of the plates, 63, ofsimilar construction and the distance between these plates is aboutequal to onethird of the circumference of the drum or flange, 48. Theplates are designed to be fixedly held by being secured to some rigidpart of the framework and each of the plates is provided with a seriesof openings, 64, with narrowed slots leading therefrom through the inneredge of the plate. Each of the openings, 64, stands opposite one of thechannels, or slotted tubes, 62, in which one part or end of the cable isdesigned to travel, and the plates, 63, are provided with otheropenings, 65, in the inner edge adjacentthe openings, 64, and in linewith the channel or slotted tube, in which the other end of the cable orrope is designed to operate, the plates, 63,having as many openingscorresponding to 64 and 65, as there are cables and enlargements to beaccommodated. In Fig. 13 the buttons or enlargements, a, shown aresupposed to be those on one end of each of the cables, 54, these buttonsor en largements being arranged in spiral order and this arrangement maybe continued throughout the circumference of the drum, so as to affordthe necessary clearance space in the operation of the buttons andcables. The buttons or enlargements, b, in Fig. 13, are supposed to bethose on the other end of the cables and they reach the position shownin the following manner: During the rotation of the drum, 48, the buttonor enlargement, a, of one cable will be caught by the plate, 63, and thebutton will thus be held during the further rotation of the drum. Thiswill result in this end of the cable being pulled out and the pickerspindles connected to this cable will be rotated in one direction; therotation continues until the button or enlargement, a, has been movedalong its channel or slotted tube until it has reached a posit-ioncorresponding to that indicated at the right of Fig. 13. To make thisoperation clear and referring to said Fig. 13, which is an enlarged viewof a portion of the circumference of the drum, 48, and one of thecables, 54, with its enlargements on the opposite ends thereof, one ofthe buttons or enlargements, a, is shown as standing opposite a tube,59, through which the cable passes which indicates that this end of thecable has been drawn in. The other end of the cable has been carriedalong the tube or guide by being held by a plate, 63, during therotation of the drum. As the head continues to rotate, the button, orenlargement, a, is caught in the contracted portion of the opening, 64,of the left hand plate, 63, and as the head continues in motion, pastthe left-hand plate, 63, the end of the cable, carrying the button, a,is drawn out. Before this occurs, however, the opposite end of the samecable must be released from its engagement with the other plate, 63, andthis is accomplished by providing a camshaped lug, 70, on thecircumference of the drum in line with each tube, 62, which lug duringthe rotation of the head comes into contact with the button orenlargement, b, and forces the same to one side so that it is broughtinto register with the enlarged portion of the opening, 64, and thebutton immediately passes through this opening and this end of the cableis thus free to move inwardly in response to the pull upon the other endof the cable due to the plate, 63, engaging and holding the button, a,of the last mentioned end of the cable.

Referring to the top-most of the cables, 54, in Fig. 11, it will be seenthat the button, a, at one end is in position to be engaged by theplate, 63, while the button, Z), at the other end is supposed to havebeen carried forward or been advanced to the position shown and whichposition represents the limit of outward movement of this button andindicates I that the rope has been drawn out to the right 5 its cottonand the pic to its full extent. The button, I), is just about to bedisengaged from its plate by the cam lug, 70, and this occurs just whenthe plate, 63, is about to engage the other button, a, on the same rope,so that as the drum continues to rotate, the button, I), is engaged andthe end of the rope carrying the same is pulled outwardly while theother button, a, is being returned to normal position. In order thatthis may occur, it must pass plate, 63, which it is approaching and thisis provided for by having this plate formed with the opening, 65, ofsufficient size to allow the button, 6, to pass through the op'enlng onits way back to the particular tube through which its rope is passedafter leaving the picker spindle carrier, 57 Thecable shown at thelowermost part of the drum, 4:8, n Fig. 11, indicates that one end ofthe cable has been pulled out to about half of its length and is beingheld by the plate, 63', so that it may be further pulled out during therotation of the drum. The button', ?2, on the other end of this samerope is indicated as having passed the plate, 63, and as traveling backto its normal position which WIll bQ opposite the opening or tube, 5'9',to whlch this part of the cable is brought. This operation occurs withall of the cables and the result of the operation is that the p1ckerspindles are rotated first in one direct on and then in the other whilein the vicinity of the cotton to be picked.

The cottonremoved from the bolls by the picking spindles is taken fromthe latter by the stripping fingers, 80, in the manner well knownin thisart, and this cotton falls upon a bottom or trough, 81, just behind alunger, 8-2, and which plunger is deslgned tofeed this cotton toward therear of the machine where it may be removed in any suitable manner. Theplunger has a stem, 83.'which I prefer to make of the slotted order asshown in Fig. 10, and it has two oppositely projecting lugs, 84, whichare designed to be engaged by a stud, or crank pin, 85, on the bottomdisk, 56, of the rotary head during the rotation of the latter, as shownin Fig. 10, whereby reciprocal movement is imparted to the piston rodand piston to cause the picked cotton to be advanced over the floor ortroughof the machlne.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent is r l. A cotton harvester having a frame anda plurality of vertical, horizontally revoluble members each providedwith complementary picking devices, one of said mem bers adapted tooperate at one side and the other at the oppositeside of a row of cottonplants, one of the members being arranged in advance of the otherwhereby its picking devices par'tiall divest the plant of ing" devicesof the spindles rotatably mounted in each of the carriers, a cableconnect-ing the spindles of each carrier in series, and means forimparting a see-saw motion to the outer ends of the cables.

2. A cotton harvester having a main frame, a supplemental frame withinthe mainframe, anda plurality of vertical, horizontally revolublemembers carried by the supplemental frame and each provided withcomplementary picking devices, one of said members adapted to operate atone side and the other at the opposite side of a row of cotton plants,one of the members being arranged in advance of the other whereby itspicking device partially divests the plant of its cotton and the pickingdevices of the other member divest the plant of the cotton which hasescaped the first-named picking devices, each of said picking devicesincluding an annular series of picker spindle carriers, a vertical rowof horizontal picker spindles rotatably mounted in each of the carriers,a cable connecting the spindles of each carrier in series, and means forimparting a see-saw motion to the outer ends of the cables. 3. A cottonharvester having a main frame, a supplemental frame within the 'mainframe, and a plurality of vertical,

of cotton plants, one of the members being arranged in advance of theother whereby its picking device partially divests the plant ofitscotton and the picking devices of the other member divest the plant ofthe cotton which has escaped the first-named picking devices, each ofsaid picking devices including an annular series of picker spindlecarriers, a vertical row of horizontal picker spindles rotatably mountedin each of the carriers, a cable connecting the spindles of each canrier in series, and means for imparting a seesaw motion to the outerends of the cables, and means for vertically adjusting the supplementalframe and said members relatively to the'main frame and to the height ofthe cotton plants.

4-. A cotton harvester having a main frame, a supplemental frame mountedwithin the main frame, a plurality of vertical, horizontally-revolublemembers carried by the supplemental frame, each of said members providedwith complementary pickingd'evices, one of said members adapted tooperate at one side and the other at the opposite side of a row ofcotton plants,

one of the members being arranged in advance of the other whereby itspicking devices partially divest the plant of its cotton and the pickingdevices of the other member divest the plant of the cotton which hasescaped the first-named picking device, each of said picking devicesincluding an annular series of picker spindle carriers, a vertical rowof horizontal picker spindles rotatably mounted in each of the carriers,a cable connecting the spindles of each carrier in series, and means forimparting a see-saw motion to the outer ends of the cables, means forvertically adjusting the supplemental frame and the picking devicescarried thereby relatively to the cotton plants, and vertical guidesbetween the main and supplemental frames for accurately guiding thelatter in its vertical adjustments.

5. A cotton harvester having a main frame, a supplemental frame, mountedwithin the main frame, a plurality of vertical, horizontally-revolublemembers carried by the supplemental frame, each of said members providedwith complementary picking devices, one of said members adapted tooperate at one side and the other at the opposite side of a row ofcotton plants, one of the members being arranged in advance of the otherwhereby its picking devices partially divest the plant of its cotton andthe picking devices of the other member divest the plant of the cottonwhich has escaped the first-named picking devices, each of said pickingdevices including an annular series of picker spindle carriers avertical row of horizontal picker spindles rotatably mounted in each ofthe carriers, a cable connecting the spindles of each carrier in series,and means for imparting a see-saw motion to the outer ends of thecables, means for vertically adjusting the supplemental frame and thepicking devices carried thereby relatively to the cotton plants, andvertical guides between the main and supplemental frames for accuratelyguiding the latter in its vertical adjustments, said adjusting meanscomprising vertical screw-shafts supported on the main frame, andthreaded nuts on the supplemental frame engaged by the screw-shafts.

6. A cotton harvester having a frame and a plurality of vertical,horizontally-revolublc members mounted therein, each of said memberscomprising upper and lower heads and a connecting annular series ofhollow spindle-carriers, and horizontal picker spindles mounted in saidcarriers and arranged one above the other in horizontal spaced relation,means for oscillating the picker spindles first in one direction andthen in the opposite direction, said means including a cable operativelyengaging the picker spindles, and means for imparting a see-saw motiontothe outer ends of the cable, and means for oscillating the pickerspindle carriers horizontally first in one direction and then in theopposite direction, the picker spindles of one of said members adaptedto operate at one side and the picker spindles of the other of saidmembers adapted to operate at the opposite side of arow of cottonplants, one of said members and its picker spindles being arranged inadvance of the other members and its picker spindles, whereby the pickerspindles of one member partially divest the plant of its cotton and thepicker spindles of the other member divest the plant of the cotton whichhas escaped the first-named picker spindles.

7 In a cotton harvester, a picking mechanism comprising avertically-disposed, horizontally-rotatable structure, said structurecomprising upper and lower heads, and picker spindle carriers arrangedin annular spaced relation, said carriers connecting said 7 heads andbeing hollow and each of said carriers being provided with a verticalrow of picker spindles, and means for oscillating the carriers, saidmeans comprising pinions 011 one end of the carriers, racks slidablymounted in one of said heads, and engaging said pinions, and means forreciprocating the racks, and thereby changing the angle of the pickerspindles as they enter and leave the plants, and means for rotating thespindles while the latter are in the plants.

8. In a cotton harvester, a picking mechanism comprising avertically-disposed, horizontally-rotatable structure, said structurecomprising upper and lower heads and connecting picker spindle carriersarranged in annular spaced relation, said carriers being hollow and eachof said carriers being provided with a vertical row of picker spindles,and means for oscillating the carriers, said means comprising pinions onone end of the carriers and racks slidably mounted in one of said headsand engaging said pinions, a fixed member having a cam-groove engagingsaid racks for reciprocating the same, thereby turning the carriers andchanging the angle of the picker spindles as the spindles enter andleave the plants, and means for rotating the spindles while they are inthe plants.

9. In a cotton harvester, a picking mechanism comprising a revolublestructure having upper and lower heads and connecting picker spindlecarriers arranged in annular series and each provided with a verticalrow of picker spindles, said spindles having one end revolubly mountedin said carriers, and provided with pulleys, a cable passing around saidpulleys from opposite sides and crossing at points between adjacentspindles, and extending through the upper end of the carrier, and meansengaging with the opposite ends of said cable, adapted to alternatelyexert a pull upon opposite ends thereof whereby the picker spindles arevertically rotated first in one direction and then in an oppositedirection.

10. In a cotton harvester a picking mechanism comprising a revolublestructure having upper and lower heads and an annular series of tubularpicker spindle carriers mounted between said heads, picker spindlesmounted in said carriers and arranged in parallel series one above theother, said spindles provided with pulleys within the carriers, a cablepassing into each of said carriers and around said pulleys having itsruns crossing at points between the pulleys of difierent spindles, theruns of the cable extending through the top of, the carrier, said upperhead being of substantially cylindrical form and provided with openings,each of the cables extending through one of said openings and providedwith enlargements, means fixedly secured adjacent the circumference ofsaid cylinder and arranged in the path of one of said enlargementsadapted to engage the same and hold it during the rotation of the headwhereby one run of the rope is pulled upon to impart rotation to thespindles in one direction, means fixedly secured adjacent thecircumference of the cylinder and in the path of the enlargement on theother end of the cable" adapted to en gage said other enlargement and tohold the same during the continued rotation of the cylinder whereby thesecondrun of the cable is pulled upon to cause the cylinders torotate inone direction opposite to their first rotation, and means for releasingone of said enlargements from its engaging means, to allow saidenlargements to return to normal position coordinately with theengagement of the other enlargement on the other end of the same cable.

11. A cotton harvester having a main frame, a supplemental framearranged within the main frame, a plurality of vertical horizontallyrevoluble members each provided with complementary picking devices oneof said members adapted to operate at one side and the other at theopposite side of a row of cotton plants, one of the members beingarranged in advance of the other whereby its picking devices partiallydivest the plant of its cotton and the picking devices of the othermember divest the plant of the cotton which has escaped the firstnamedpicking devices, each of said picking devices comprising an annularseries of picker spindle carriers, a vertical row of horizontal pickerspindles rotatablymounted in each of the carriers, a cable connect-ingthe spindles of each carrier in series, and means for imparting asee-saw motion to the outer ends of said cable, means adjacent each ofsaid members for stripping the cotton from the picking devices, aplunger operable in the lower part of the supplemental frame foradvancing the cotton delivered from the strippers, and means carried bysaid revoluble members for operating the plungers.

12. In a cotton harvester having a main frame, a supplemental framemounted therein, a plurality of vertical, horizontallyrevoluble memberseach provided with complementary picking devices, one of said membersadapted to operate at one side and the other at the opposite side of arow of cotton plants, one of the members being arranged in advance ofthe other whereby the picking devices partially divest the plant of itscotton, and the picking devices of the other member divest the plant ofthe cotton which has escaped the first-named picking devices, each ofsaid picking devices comprising an annular series of picker spindlecarriers, a vertical'row of horizontal picker spindles rot-atablymounted in each of the carriers, a cable connecting the spindles of eachcarrier in series, and means for imparting a see-saw motion to the outerends of said cable, means for vertically adjusting the picking devicesrelatively to the cotton plants, a vertical shaft by which the saidmembers are carried, traction wheels upon which the main frame issupported, a shaft mounted in the supplemental frame and arrangedparallel with the line of movement of the machine, means fortransmitting power from the traction wheels to said second-named shaft,and gearing between the first and second-named shafts, said secondnamedshaft being flexible and extensible in response to the adjustment of thesupplemental frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUGIUS L. UPSHAW. Witnesses:

T. WALTER FOWLER, O. W. FOWLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe G0mmissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. C.

